SHIPPING DELAYED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 155, 20 March 1918, Page 6

SHIPPING DELAYED

NO SERIOUS DAMAGE REPORTED.

No serious damage in the harbour is reported to have resulted by the gale. The tides were high and at some parts of tho wharves seas burst over tueni, Clyde Quay Wharf being under water several times during the day.. The vessels at their berths were not damaged, although the smaller ones received a buffeting. '.

The cart •entrance to the Jervois Quay breastwork had -fo be closed as the pressure of the water beneath the wooden, paving blocks forced I.hem v up. The Nikau, from Nelson, did not encounter the northerly gale until just outside the Heads. After leaving Nelson sho met with a south-easterly wind, and later a calni. In the early part of the morning the vessels were being worked, but as heavy rain fell shortly after noon a stop was made. Aboiit 4 p.m. the hatch covers were again taken off, and work wont on slowly. Sixteen vessels were fixed to sail yesterday, but their departure was postponed, either on account of the weather or the shortage of labour. Besides the two ferry steamers, the only coastal vessel that sailed was the Ripple for the East, Coast. The Karamu, bound from Bluff to Wellington, had not arrived at a late hour last night, and she was probably sheltering. The storm broke about 5 p.m. and the sea subsided considerably. There was a flutter of excitement on the waterfront about <i p.m., when it was reported that those on board thetug Admiral had seen two distress signals Hying on. the Tutanekai, which was anchored to a buoy iu Kaiwarra Bight. The Admiral had gone within hailing distance of the Tutanokai, whose caretaker said that the vessel was dragging. Tlia tug Karaka went alongside-, but was not needed as the caretaker had landed from the Tutanekai's launch and had taken several of the Post and j Telegraph Department's permanent hands to the vessel, when, a second

anchor was put down. The vessel had dragged the buoy about 100 yards; but was not in a dangerous position -when taken in hand, though something serious would have happened had she been allowed to drag.